Recognizing the urgency to tackle impacts of climate change on rice production, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) conducted the Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and rice production training, April 22-26. Forty-seven high school teachers from across the country were trained to teach crop production in the next academic year. The key aim of the training was to integrate lessons on climate-smart rice agriculture in the curriculum of the participating schools. The […]

Brown rice was sold for a historically low P37/kg during its launching in Bohol, April 20. The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) in partnership with the National Food Authority (NFA) recently forged ties to push for the consumption of brown rice by making it more accessible and affordable to the general public. Launched at the Island City Mall Activity Center in Tagbilaran City, the BROWN4good Project will ensure […]

Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – In an unusual time when farmers recently formed human barricades to inform government that they are experiencing hunger owing to extreme weather conditions, the Rice Science Museum features adaptive measures on climate change in its new exhibit. Titled Transformations in Progress, the 4th exhibit launched April 21, displays dioramas on emerging yet easy to adopt farm practices that can help farmers cope with unfavorable situations. The […]

PhilRice’s branch in Midsayap, North Cotabato was awarded as the 2015 Best Station, an annual internal competition among the seven branch stations of the Institute across the country. The 94-ha station was cited for a very informative farmers’ field day and forum in September 2015 which gathered over 700 farmers from southwestern Mindanao. It was also lauded for good governance. Dr. Sailila E. Abdula, acting branch director, believes that this […]

The Department of Agriculture (DA) recognized the top rice producing provinces and municipalities during the 2015 Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards (APRAA) at the Resorts World Manila, April 20. DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the combined efforts of hardworking farmers, local government units (LGUs), and DA is key in achieving more than18M metric tons annual rice yield in the past five years. He also reported that the Philippines is acclaimed […]

Experts at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) urge farmers not to burn rice straws, locally known as dayami, for environmental and economic reasons. Burning of rice straws, generally practiced during the harvest season, causes air pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulphur dioxide. If continually done, it will decrease soil’s nitrogen, 25% of phosphorus, 20% of potassium, and 5-60% of sulfur. The practice also damages […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Los Baños, Laguna featured rice-based farming systems that boost farmers’ income in their first quarterly seminar series, April 6. With the theme, Exploring the benefits of diversified rice-based farming for food security and increased income, the seminar gathered experts from PhilRice collaborators in the scientific community such as UP Los Baños (UPLB), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources […]

The Department of Agriculture’s information system based on satellite data and ground observations is helping the Philippines monitor rice production and prepare for and mitigate the effects of disasters such as typhoons and El Niño to rice areas. The Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM) project highlighted the key features and importance of this innovation during its first annual executive meeting at the Bay View Park Hotel in Manila, March 31. […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhiRice) recommends the use of drought-tolerant varieties and technologies to help farmers cope with the ongoing El Niño phenomenon. “Rice normally grows at temperatures between 20-35°C. Reports have indicated that temperatures above 35°C is critical for rice growth especially during the reproductive stage. At present, temperature may reach up to 38 to 40°C,” said Dr. Norvie Manigbas, PhilRice plant breeder. According to studies, rice yield […]

In the light of the El Niño phenomenon, farmers learned climate change-ready technologies in rice production during the recently concluded Lakbay-Palay at the PhilRice’s Central Experiment Station in Nueva Ecija, March 31 and April 1. Through field tours and open forum, rice experts taught farmers how to cope with climate change by using climate-smart technologies such as the alternate wetting and drying (AWD) technology, ecological engineering, and rice-based agribiosystems. AWD, […]